Bowl & Kettle is currently seeking a Production Cook in Denver, Colorado to support our growing freeze-dried food business. Join our mission to provide the best backpacking and travel meals on the market. Voted 3rd in Best Backpacking Meals by Backpacker Magazine for Summer 2026.
The Production Cook will be the primary role in the kitchen and will prepare a variety of ingredients throughout the entire production lifecycle for the three primary meal products we offer (Chicken Tikka Masala, Crawfish Étouffée, and Mexican Street Corn Grits). An ideal candidate will have demonstrable knife skills, food handling skills, great time management, a solid grasp of food safety procedures, high standards for quality, great communications skills, exceptional attention to detail, and a keen interest in learning how we operate.
Essential Job Functions
- Reviews prep list as a team and discusses timing and procedures for the day and week
- Sets up and closes kitchen every day
- Preps various products in required volumes while keeping an efficient pace
- Completes the appropriate logs as assigned
- Works through daily tasks including ingredient prep, cooking, pre-freezing prepared foods, loading / unloading freeze dryers, packaging prep, meal packing, vacuum sealing and a variety of other production-related tasks
- Follows specifications provided in production procedures and recipes
- Follows safety and sanitation procedures in accordance to all guidelines from OSHA, Department of Public Health and the HACCP Coordinator
- Accountable for compliance with all local, state, federal laws and regulations including those relating to food safety
- Adheres to and maintains the highest safety and sanitation standards
- Cleans throughout day and cleans at the end of the day
- Capable of repetitive hand and arm motion, standing, walking, bending/twisting and balance
- Stands a minimum of 4-6 hours a day or throughout shift
- Detects workplace hazards, navigates work areas, follows written directions, and safely operates equipment
- Lifts, pushes and/or moves up to 50lbs
- Safely works around hot surfaces, sharp objects and potentially wet and/or slippery floors
- Dependability, consistency, and high standards in performance are major factors within job’s responsibilities
Minimum Qualifications
- Working knowledge of commercial kitchen equipment
- Basic knife skills including proper knife cuts and safe knife handling
- Knowledge of food safety and sanitation
- Effective communication skills
- Experience working in a fast paced environment
- Follow standardized recipes, scale them appropriately and weigh and measure foods utilizing both standard and metric units of measurement
- Obtain and maintain a Food Manager Certification for the duration of employment
- Minimum of 3 years experience in similar role or above preferred
- High school diploma or GED
Job Perks and Benefits
- Work/life balance with a flexible schedule (no nights or weekends)
- Room to advance and take on new responsibilities
- Generous discounts on freeze-dried meals
- Opportunity to support the development of new recipes and products
- Paid time off
- Eligibility in bonus program based on company and employee performance
Pay will be based on experience and qualifications.
About Bowl & Kettle
Founded in Austin, Texas, Bowl & Kettle produces fine freeze-dried foods in-house at our kitchen in Denver with the same craft and attention to quality as your favorite local restaurant. Our simply-add-water meals are intended for use in the backcountry by outdoor enthusiasts, backpackers, hunters, and any other adventurer on the move. All meals to date offer high-caloric servings, are high in macronutrients, and made with whole, locally sourced ingredients. We are on a mission to raise the bar on backcountry provisions.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits:
Experience:
- Food production: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Food Managers Certificate (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Denver, CO 80207 (Required)
Work Location: In person
